View PDF version of this page

passage inclined slightly inwards, and after a few paces forward, with the body curved in the uncomfor able form of a capital C, we arrived in a spacioi gallery cut into a succession of arches, the centre which was six feet high. A small window, about three feet by two, was cut through the rock to admit Ugh and air, from which I could with a rifle havfl completely commanded the glen below and thf approach to the left. There was no ledge beneat &quot; the window, but simply the sheer precipice of th< smooth cliff, and there was no other approach to this extraordinary place of refuge except that by which w«. had arrived. The gallery was neatly cut, and extended for an unknown distance : several other galleries, arched in the same manner and of the same size, branched off at right angles with that we had entered. I was lec to a well, which was represented as being deep, and was informed that the hill was perforated with similar galleries, all of which communicated with each other. I much regretted that we were unprovided wit candles; one of the Turks lighted a match, but it only served to increase the uncertainty of the sur-! rounding darkness. This must be a similar cave-refuge to that we ha passed about four miles distant when on our way from Lithrankomi to GallibornO, and it deserves a minute in vestigation. A s I could see nothing beyond about thirty feet from the window, owing to the darkness, I cannot give any account of the actual dimensions, which may be much inferior to the unlimited descriptions of m informants. Upon my return to camp I had th benefit of my interpreter, and the story was repeate that no one knew the extent of the excavations, eithe. of these galleries or those we had passed during oui1

View PDF version of this page